Van driver was twice alcohol limit

Van driver was twice alcohol limit

A VAN driver who was more than twice the legal alcohol limit when he drove into the path of another vehicle near Cricklade has been banned from getting behind the wheel for 22 months.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert said police were called to a two-vehicle crash at Chelworth crossroads at 4.25pm on January where the woman driver of a car was trapped and suffering from minor injuries.

They were told a Suzuki had been travelling towards Malmesbury on the B4040 when a Vivaro van pulled out into its path.

The van driver, Evri Latte, 35, was breath tested and failed. He pleaded guilty to the charge. He had a level of 88 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath in his system.

Alexis Pink, defending, said Latte, of Shaftesbury Avenue, was very remorseful. He had been on a day off after having been at a party the night before, but his boss had texted asking him to do a favour. “He says he would never have driven had he believed he was over the limit.”

He believed he had been flashed by a car that was coming down the road, but accepted he might have been mistaken.

Latte had lived in the UK since 2010 and worked as a driver. He had not claimed benefits since his arrival and had always worked. He would now be looking for new employment.

As well as banning him the bench fined him £120, with £85 court costs and £30 to help fund victim services.

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